Somerville Police Records
Somerville police records are managed by the Somerville Police Department's Records Bureau. The city is in Middlesex County just north of Boston and handles a high volume of police activity across its dense neighborhoods. You can search for and request copies of police records including incident reports, arrest logs, crash data, and police clearance letters. This page explains the ways you can get police records from Somerville, what the process looks like, and which other agencies hold related files for the city.
Somerville Overview
Somerville Police Records Bureau
The Somerville Police Department operates a dedicated Records Bureau that handles all records requests for the city. The bureau is located at the main station on Washington Street. Staff take requests in person, by phone, by fax, and by email. The bureau has set hours that are more limited than the department's regular hours, so plan your visit accordingly.
| Department | Somerville Police Department - Records Bureau |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 Washington Street Somerville, MA 02143 |
| Phone | 617-625-1600 Ext 7244 |
| Fax | 617-629-1780 |
| records@police.somerville.ma.us | |
| Hours | Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Closed weekends and Mondays |
The bureau handles incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and police clearance letters. Walk-in visits work best during the early morning hours when the office first opens. Call ahead if you are not sure the bureau will be open on a given day. Bring a valid photo ID for any in-person request.
Note: The Records Bureau is closed on Mondays and weekends, so plan visits for Tuesday through Friday.
How to Get Somerville Police Records
You can request Somerville police records in several ways. The easiest is to email the Records Bureau at records@police.somerville.ma.us. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of what records you need. Give dates, names, case numbers, and the type of report. Specific requests get faster results.
You can also fax your request to 617-629-1780 or mail it to the station at 220 Washington Street. In-person requests work too. The department must respond within 10 business days under M.G.L. c.66 §10. Most requests from the Somerville bureau are handled within that window. Copies cost $0.05 per page. The first two hours of search time are free, and the department charges $25 per hour after that as allowed by state regulations.
If the records you ask for involve an open case, the department may withhold them until the investigation closes. They have to tell you which exemption under M.G.L. c.4 §7(26) applies to your request. You always have the option to appeal a denial to the Supervisor of Records at no cost.
Somerville Crash Reports
Car crash reports are one of the most common types of police records people ask for in Somerville. If you were in an accident in the city, the responding officer files a crash report. You can get a copy from the Records Bureau or order it online through BuyCrash. The state-run BuyCrash portal lets you search by name or report number and download a copy for a small fee.
Massachusetts law says you must file a crash report within 5 days of any accident that causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. The Somerville Police Department files its own report at the scene. Your copy and the officer's copy may have different details since the officer includes observations and evidence from the scene. If your report is not yet on BuyCrash, call the Records Bureau at 617-625-1600 Ext 7244 to check on it.
The Massachusetts 911 recordings request page can also be a useful resource if you need audio from a call related to an accident or incident in Somerville.
Note: Crash reports are typically available within a few business days after the officer files them.
Somerville Police Clearance Letters
The Somerville Police Department issues police clearance letters, sometimes called good standing letters. These letters confirm that a person does not have any pending cases or warrants with the department. You need a government-issued photo ID to request one. Visit the Records Bureau in person during their hours to start the process.
Police clearance letters from Somerville only cover the city itself. They do not reflect records from other departments or state agencies. If you need a broader check, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services runs the CORI system at the state level. A personal CORI check costs $25 and shows your criminal history across all Massachusetts jurisdictions.
Middlesex County Resources for Somerville
Somerville falls within Middlesex County. The Middlesex County District Attorney prosecutes criminal cases from the city. The DA's office keeps records on cases it handles, including charging decisions, case dispositions, and plea agreements. Court records for Somerville cases can be searched through MassCourts, the state's free online case lookup tool. You search by name or case number to find docket entries, hearing dates, and case outcomes.
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office manages custody records for people held at county facilities. You can reach the sheriff's office at (781) 960-2800. If someone was arrested in Somerville and held at a county jail, the sheriff has booking and release information. For state-level police records, use the Massachusetts State Police records portal to file a request.
Appealing a Somerville Records Denial
If Somerville denies your records request, state law gives you a path to challenge that decision. The department must explain in writing which exemption they are using. You can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The appeal is free. The Supervisor can order the department to release records if the denial was not proper under M.G.L. c.66 §10A.
You can also take the matter to Superior Court. If the court rules in your favor, you may be entitled to attorney fees and costs. Most disputes are settled at the Supervisor level without needing to go to court. The whole appeal process usually takes a few weeks from start to finish, depending on the complexity of the request.
Middlesex County Police Records
Somerville is in Middlesex County, and many police records from the city connect to county-level agencies. For more about the DA, sheriff, and county court resources, visit the Middlesex County police records page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Somerville have their own police records resources. Most share Middlesex County agencies.